ASSOCIATION LIST Meaning and
Definition
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An association list refers to a data structure that is composed of a collection of key-value pairs. It is commonly used in computer programming and data management to represent a mapping between keys and corresponding values. An association list allows efficient retrieval and manipulation of values based on their associated keys.
In an association list, each key-value pair is stored as a separate entity, typically in a linked list format. The key serves as an identifier for a specific value, while the value represents the actual data being stored. The list of associations can be unordered, and it does not necessarily enforce unique keys. This means that multiple pairs with the same key can exist, though it is more common to have only one value per key.
The primary advantage of an association list is its flexibility. It provides a simple and straightforward manner to store and retrieve data using unique keys. As the list is unordered, additional key-value pairs can be easily appended or removed without affecting the underlying structure. Furthermore, the association list can accommodate keys of different data types, making it versatile and adaptable to various use cases.
However, one drawback of association lists is their potentially inefficient lookup time. As the list grows, searching for a specific key can become time-consuming since the list must be sequentially traversed until a match is found. Therefore, for large datasets requiring frequent access and retrieval operations, alternative data structures like hash tables or binary search trees may offer better performance.
Etymology of ASSOCIATION LIST
The etymology of the term "association" can be traced back to the Latin word "associatio", which means "joining" or "uniting". This Latin word is derived from the verb "associare", which combines "ad" (meaning "to" or "towards") and "sociare" (meaning "to unite" or "to join"). The term "association" in English emerged in the mid-16th century.
The word "list" has its roots in the Old English word "list", which meant "limit" or "boundary". It also had associations with "tilt" or "tilting" in the sense of a barrier during a medieval tournament. Over time, the word evolved to refer to a series or enumeration of items.
